How to Cut Calories for Weight Loss

Are you trying to cut calories to lose weight? If so, you may be confused by all the numbers you see online and in magazines. It’s hard to figure out exactly how many calories to cut to lose weight effectively and keep the pounds off for good. But don’t worry. Cutting calories is easier than you might imagine – once you get the facts.

Can I Lose Weight by Cutting Calories Alone?

There are different ways to lose weight – but all of them require that you change your daily calorie balance.

Experts call this your energy balance. The simplest way to change your energy balance is to cut calories. You can accomplish this by eating smaller portions of food at meal time or by skipping snacks and high-calorie drinks.

You can also add exercise to your weight loss program to increase your calorie deficit and lose weight faster. But be careful. This plan works for some people, but it backfires on others. Exercise is good for your body and should be part of a healthy lifestyle. But exercise can also make you hungry. If you’re already cutting calories to lose weight, the added hunger after exercise can be too much, and it may cause you to quit your weight loss program altogether.

If you already exercise, you may be able to reduce calories and maintain your exercise program to lose weight. But if exercise is not a part of your daily routine, start slowly. First, cut calories to lose weight and then slowly add an easy exercise program to increase your weight loss.

How Many Calories Should I Cut to Lose Weight?

Most experts recommend that you cut approximately 500 to 750 calories per day to lose one to two pounds per week. You can use this weight loss calorie goal calculator to figure out how many calories you should be eating daily.

Of course, in order to meet your goal, you need to keep track of how many calories you eat.

Should I Cut More Calories to Lose Weight Faster?

So if cutting calories can lead to weight loss, you might be tempted to cut as many calories as possible to slim down. Some dieters even lower their daily food intake to 800 calories or less to lose weight. But extremely low-calorie diets usually don’t lead to permanent weight loss for several reasons.

First, very low-calorie diets (VLCD) can affect your metabolism. Some dieters call this “starvation mode.” When you eat far less than your body needs, your metabolism slows down to adjust for the lower supply of energy. When your metabolism slows down, your rate of weight loss slows down, too.

Next, very low-calorie diets affect your daily energy level. Why does this matter? Your daily activity level has a big impact on the number of calories you burn every day. If you stay active and burn more calories, you’re more likely to see weight loss results. If you’re exhausted from eating too little, you won’t burn as many calories and weight loss can stall.

Lastly, very low-calorie diets are uncomfortable, unsafe and difficult to maintain. Without medical supervision, it’s unlikely that your body will stay healthy without essential nutrients.

And if you get overly hungry from the decreased food intake, you’re more likely to binge and possibly even gain weight because of it.

You can cut calories to lose weight. But be careful that you don’t cut too many calories and risk your health. Your body needs time to adjust to a new lifestyle and a new eating plan. Take it slow and make small adjustments to see real weight loss results that last.